Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Coping with Trauma

The original 2015 Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, starring Ellie Kemper, is pure comedy at its finest as quirky — and certainly bubbly — 29 year-old Kimmy Schmidt moves from Indiana to New York City for a fresh start. She finds a home with Titus, the dramatic and eccentric roommate looking for stardom (played by Tituss Burgess), has adventures with Lillian, the tough-as-nails and offbeat landlord (played by Carol Kane), and begins to work as a nanny for Jacqueline, a snobby but lovable socialite (played by Jane Krakowski). But underneath the literally laugh out loud dialogue and hilarity is a serious — and comparatively unique — storyline. In episode one, we learn that Kimmy was kidnapped along with three other young women by a reverend who told them the world was ending; she spent fifteen years of her life immersed in an apocalypse cult, living in an underground bunker until they were finally freed. And as wondrous as it is for Kimmy to have a second chance at life, you could imagine she may have some post traumatic stress to confront. After all, while she was living in the bunker for fifteen years, her main objective was to adapt to the experience. And to survive. In season one, we find Kimmy back in the real world again. Her lack of awareness regarding pop culture or societal trends or famous news headlines surely gives way to humor, and her immense drive to surpass her past and move on is admirable. We watch Kimmy help friends who are st...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Celebrities General Psychology PTSD Trauma Women's Issues Ariel Castro bunker Childhood Trauma Ellie Kemper kidnapping Optimism Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Source Type: blogs